Hellraiser: Bloodline (1996)
Studio: Echo Bridge/Miramax
Theatrical Release: March 8, 1996
Blu Ray Release: May 10, 2011
R
Review by James Klein
The fourth installment of the Hellraiser series went through some major creative differences/problems before its release 15 years ago. The film was originally directed by make up effects artist Kevin Yagher whose original version has still not seen the light of day and demands some sort of release someday. Originally the film was much longer, it had more disturbing/graphic visuals, and the film didn't even introduce the iconic character of Pinhead until the 40 minute mark. Producers took the film away from Yagher and forced him to re-do certain scenes and also re-edited various scenes to which Yagher disowned the film and turned this entry into "an Alan Smithee film" (director Joe Chappelle did some uncredited work as the second director brought on to finish the film). Being the last Hellraiser installment to hit theaters, the movie earned its money back but was quickly forgotten and considered by certain fans to be one of the lesser entries. Despite the silly futuristic setting during part of the film, I happen to enjoy Hellraiser: Bloodline and find it to be a worthy sequel in the long-running franchise.
Bloodline is a strange concept in that the film is broken up into three different stories: the first takes place during the 17th century where a puzzle maker develops the evil puzzle box that has been so prominent throughout the series. While the puzzle maker is clueless as to the outcome of his creation, the puzzle maker's bloodline is forever linked to its evil. The second story takes place where Hellraiser III has left off with the opening of a new building that was built on the ground where the puzzle box was buried at the end of part III. The final segment take place in the future where one of the ancestors of the puzzle maker has designed a space station that can finally put Pinhead and his creation to rest.
While the last segment is too ridiculous at times with some hilariously over the top kills and laughably bad dialogue, the other segments work well and play better than the fast-paced, heavy metal-ish Hellraiser III. The opening segment is pure Clive Barker and reminded me of something Barker himself would write. This segment is an interesting prequel to the Hellraiser mythology. I was also happy to see the second segment taking place directly after the third film, continuing its continuity of the series. At least half the film is enjoyable and while Bloodline was obviously made on a lower budget than the previous films, it still works and expands on the storyline of Pinhead and the history of the puzzle box.
Echo Bridge has put out a bare bone blu ray which although has no special features (not even a trailer) the picture looks fine for the most part as there are some grain during darker sequences and the sound was loud enough with lines of dialogue uttered clearly. However, my old DVD copy is presented in the original aspect ratio of 1:85 with a 5.1 surround whereas the blu ray is at a 1:78 ratio and has just the mono 2.0 sound. I don't know why Echo Bridge has done this, yet again. Sometime they have put out stellar blu rays (read my review for Beer League) so I am unsure what the deal is. Fans demand their films to be put out on blu ray in the original aspect ratio with decent sound. The blu ray is a good purchase for a cheap price, so fans of the Hellraiser series may want to pick this up if they want an improved picture quality.
Theatrical Release: March 8, 1996
Blu Ray Release: May 10, 2011
R
Review by James Klein
The fourth installment of the Hellraiser series went through some major creative differences/problems before its release 15 years ago. The film was originally directed by make up effects artist Kevin Yagher whose original version has still not seen the light of day and demands some sort of release someday. Originally the film was much longer, it had more disturbing/graphic visuals, and the film didn't even introduce the iconic character of Pinhead until the 40 minute mark. Producers took the film away from Yagher and forced him to re-do certain scenes and also re-edited various scenes to which Yagher disowned the film and turned this entry into "an Alan Smithee film" (director Joe Chappelle did some uncredited work as the second director brought on to finish the film). Being the last Hellraiser installment to hit theaters, the movie earned its money back but was quickly forgotten and considered by certain fans to be one of the lesser entries. Despite the silly futuristic setting during part of the film, I happen to enjoy Hellraiser: Bloodline and find it to be a worthy sequel in the long-running franchise.
Bloodline is a strange concept in that the film is broken up into three different stories: the first takes place during the 17th century where a puzzle maker develops the evil puzzle box that has been so prominent throughout the series. While the puzzle maker is clueless as to the outcome of his creation, the puzzle maker's bloodline is forever linked to its evil. The second story takes place where Hellraiser III has left off with the opening of a new building that was built on the ground where the puzzle box was buried at the end of part III. The final segment take place in the future where one of the ancestors of the puzzle maker has designed a space station that can finally put Pinhead and his creation to rest.
While the last segment is too ridiculous at times with some hilariously over the top kills and laughably bad dialogue, the other segments work well and play better than the fast-paced, heavy metal-ish Hellraiser III. The opening segment is pure Clive Barker and reminded me of something Barker himself would write. This segment is an interesting prequel to the Hellraiser mythology. I was also happy to see the second segment taking place directly after the third film, continuing its continuity of the series. At least half the film is enjoyable and while Bloodline was obviously made on a lower budget than the previous films, it still works and expands on the storyline of Pinhead and the history of the puzzle box.
Echo Bridge has put out a bare bone blu ray which although has no special features (not even a trailer) the picture looks fine for the most part as there are some grain during darker sequences and the sound was loud enough with lines of dialogue uttered clearly. However, my old DVD copy is presented in the original aspect ratio of 1:85 with a 5.1 surround whereas the blu ray is at a 1:78 ratio and has just the mono 2.0 sound. I don't know why Echo Bridge has done this, yet again. Sometime they have put out stellar blu rays (read my review for Beer League) so I am unsure what the deal is. Fans demand their films to be put out on blu ray in the original aspect ratio with decent sound. The blu ray is a good purchase for a cheap price, so fans of the Hellraiser series may want to pick this up if they want an improved picture quality.
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